Your Role in the Model State Water Code Project

Abstract: The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Model State Water Code Project is very ambitious. The Task Committee (TC) to Establish a Model State Water Code and the Water Laws Committee (WLC) of the Water Resources Planning and Management (WR) Division need your assistance to make it a success. Among the roles that ASCE members and committees can assume are: (1) Scoping - Your input has been requested with respect to what the code should cover. The 1989-90 plans were to focus on water quantity issues and consider water quality only as it relates to quantity, to deal almost exclusively with state law considering federal law only when it bears on what should be included in the code, and to incorporate broad coverage of surface, underground, and atmospheric water law. (2) Policy - While this project is not intended principally as a law reform exercise, policy issues will arise with respect to the substance of provisions adopted. Views will be solicited with respect to policy questions, particularly regarding controversial matters. (3) Writing - Lawyers, academics, and other ASCE members with experience in writing legislative materials are needed. The TC plans to write papers and make presentations from the outset of the project. More help is urgently requested. (4) Reviews - Every water resources professional has a stake in the project. Drafts will be circulated regularly among interested ASCE members and other groups. (5) Workshop - The TC plans to hold a workshop in the summer of 1993 at an ASCE meeting. All interested parties are invited to attend and contribute. (6) Adoptions - The code is not intended as merely an academic exercise. When completed it will be presented to state legislatures for their use in modernizing, harmonizing, and completing their water codes. ASCE members should be involved in this process.